The last time humans flew around the Moon, it was December 1972. Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ron Evans made the final crewed lunar voyage of the 20th century — and for over 50 years, no human being has travelled beyond Earth orbit.
That changes in April 2026.
NASA engineers have successfully repaired a helium flow issue in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's upper stage — the final technical hurdle standing between now and launch. Work was completed at the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, and the agency has confirmed multiple launch windows in April: **April 1, April 3–6, and April 30.**
Four astronauts are ready. The rocket is ready. Humanity is going back to the Moon.
**🌕 Meet the Crew Making History**
The Artemis II crew carries more than just scientific instruments — they carry history:
- **Reid Wiseman** (Commander, NASA) — veteran astronaut and former ISS commander - **Victor Glover** (Pilot, NASA) — will become the **first Black person to leave Earth orbit** and travel to the Moon - **Christina Koch** (Mission Specialist, NASA) — will become the **first woman to leave Earth orbit** and travel to the Moon - **Jeremy Hansen** (Mission Specialist, Canadian Space Agency) — will become the **first non-American to travel to the Moon**
Three historic firsts in a single mission. And one extraordinary return for all of humanity.
**What They'll Actually Do**
Artemis II is a 10-day crewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft. The mission won't land on the Moon — that's reserved for Artemis III, planned for 2028. Instead, Artemis II will:
- Launch on the most powerful operational rocket in history (SLS) - Enter a highly elliptical orbit taking the crew **beyond the Moon and back** - Test all life support systems, communications, navigation, and Orion's heat shield - Allow astronauts to manually fly Orion and test emergency abort capabilities - Take the first humans to deep space in over half a century
Think of it as the Apollo 8 of the Artemis era — a bold verification that all systems work before the landing missions begin.
**Why This Matters So Much**
Human spaceflight has been confined to low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 splashed down on December 19, 1972. For 54 years, no human being has looked at the Earth as a whole, hanging in the void of space. No human being has felt the gravitational pull of a world other than Earth.
In April 2026, four people will experience all of that for the first time in over half a century.
'What we're doing with Artemis is not just a return to the Moon — it's humanity taking the next step in our cosmic story. And this time, we're going back to stay.'
**The Road to the Moon's Surface (2028)**
Artemis II's success will clear the path for Artemis III — the mission that will land astronauts on the lunar South Pole. The south polar region may contain water ice, billions of years old, that could support long-term human presence.
Artemis III will include the first woman and first person of colour to walk on the Moon's surface — building on the historic milestones Artemis II sets in motion.
After 54 years, humanity is going back. 🌕🚀
Sources: NASA · Live Science · Space.com · Sky at Night Magazine